Oklahoma Teacher Walkout Will Continue Into Next Week

The state’s largest teachers union says the teacher walkout will continue next week despite the Senate passing two revenue-raising measures today. The Oklahoma Education Association also laid out new demands it says lawmakers must meet for teachers to return to the classroom.

The Senate passed two bills Friday to increase the amount of money going to education. One is the so-called “ball and dice” bill that would allow more table games in casinos, while the other would place a sales tax on Amazon marketplace vendors. Together could bring in about $40 million.

But many lawmakers say that money won’t flow to schools until next year because the governor has already approved the education budget.

The Senate also voted to repeal a $5 per-night hotel/motel tax, which was a small part of that education budget package. That tax would have brought in an estimated $47 million annually.

Now, the teachers union has laid out two new demands to end the walkout.

They say Governor Mary Fallin must use a veto to reinstate the motel tax the Senate just repealed and they want lawmakers to end some exemptions on capital gains taxes. Together, they could bring in an estimated $147 million annually.

Meanwhile, dozens of school districts have announced they will be closed on Monday, including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Deer Creek, and Blanchard.

Just talked to a reporter colleague in Georgia about whether or not the hotel/motel tax being repealed in HB1012XX affecting convention business there. He has heard no reports conventions leaving the state because of the fee. #okleg#oklaed

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Oklahoma teachers continued to rally Wednesday at the state capitol, the third day of a planned teacher walkout. Educators filled the capitol to capacity, urging lawmakers to hear their demands for more education funding.

The Oklahoma Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, wants more money for the classroom and it identified legislation they think would achieve that. One is a bill allowing ball and dice games in casinos, another would repeal some capital gains exemptions.

After passing teacher pay raises and providing revenue to fund them, some lawmakers thought the teacher walkout would be short lived. However, as the walkout closes in on its fourth day, some are wondering what the options are to provide more revenue to fund education and other core state services.

Following are some of the options lawmakers have talked about in the past that could still be on the table. They have varying levels of support, which is tricky when considering the super majority new revenue measures require.

The Oklahoma teacher walkout and educators’ demands for more school funding dominates the news. It’s unclear if lawmakers are willing to meet those demands and quell daily protests. One lingering question: If schools get more money, what happens to other state agencies and workers who need funding, too?

Oklahoma’s state Capitol has been a madhouse all week. Teachers pack the rotunda early, and by 9 a.m. the chants are loud enough to echo through the tunnels underneath the building.